OPPOSITION councillors have welcomed the proposed reduction of green belt sites to be developed in St Helens.

The St Helens Local Plan, which covers development in the borough from 2020 to 2035, was published this week as part of the cabinet papers for its next meeting on Wednesday, December 12.

Since the last version of the plan was shared with the public, two brownfield sites – land that have previously been developed – has been brought forward, reducing the need for green belt release.

Subsequently, sites in eleven wards that were intended to be removed from the green belt but are not now.

These include sites in or extending into Thatto Heath, Moss Bank, Billinge and Seneley Green, Bold, Rainhill, Rainford, Newton, Earlestown, Haydock and Eccleston.

Currently, 65 per cent of the borough is in the green belt.

The “preferred options” plan, which went out for public consultation in 2016, set out intentions to cut this to 56 per cent.

The new plan proposes to increase this figure to 59 per cent.

Allan Jones, leader of the St Helens Conservative group, said it appears as though the Labour council has taken residents’ concerns on board.

Cllr Jones said: “The proposed Local Plan sees much less of our green belt land being released for development than under the original plan.

“Residents from across our borough fought against that plan, so it is pleasing that the council appears to be taking some concerns on board.

“It is also welcome that the council have listened to our concerns about the 30-year span of the original local plan.”

Cllr Jones said he intends to speak further on the matter during full council later this month.

St Helens Star:

Allan Jones, leader of the St Helens Conservative group

The new plan also proposes a reduction in the proposed number of houses to be delivered annually.

The plan proposes the delivery of 486 per annum, down from the previous figure of 570.

The new target takes into account the increased housing needs due to employment growth in the borough.

Cllr Derek Long, leader of the council, said the plan protects the borough’s heritage and green spaces.

Cllr Long said: “This is the balanced plan for a better future I promised in May.

“With a growing population in the borough, it’s right that we have a land use plan that for example, meets young families’ needs for better homes along with residents’ need for good quality jobs.

“But it’s also right that we protect our heritage and green spaces. Where future planning applications are made, they will have to justify improvements in infrastructure like roads and schools.

“This is an exciting plan too. It sets the foundation for our intention to move quickly to transform St Helens town centre and other district centres.

“National government sets the rules and minimum housing targets that we have to meet. The government’s approach – as their heartless tampering demonstrates – favours development.

“If we do not follow their rules, even more development will happen that we cannot control.”

Cllr Long reiterated the council is committed to its “brownfield first” policy.

He said in the past year, the council has managed to increase “very significantly” the amount of brownfield land in the plan.

The Labour leader said more brownfield sites could be brought forward if the government provided around £40 million to reclaim land from previous industrial uses.

Eccleston Ward councillor Teresa Sims, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said developers should be made to pay to clean up any contaminated land.

Cllr Sims said: “While we welcome the proposed reduction of green belt land to be released within the Local Plan, it remains the view of the Liberal Democrat group that a brownfield first approach must be fully adopted, and that there should be no development on green belt land until every available brownfield site has been identified and built upon.

“This includes any contaminated land, which we feel should be cleaned up and paid for entirely by those developers and house builders that have land interests within the borough”.

Subject to approval by cabinet and full council, an eight-week publication period will begin in January to allow the public to view the plan and submit representations to the council.

The plan will then be submitted to an independent planning inspector in the summer, with the council aiming to adopt it in 2020.

Cllr Long urged the public to engage in the process.

He said: “This is the third and last time we can open the Local Plan for public comment. So, we are setting aside eight weeks for this from January – longer than is required by law.

“We are putting on local events to give residents ample opportunity to make informed points to the government’s planning inspector who will decide whether the plan is adopted.

“Please make sure you take up that opportunity.”